Tag: #MurderInLittleShendon

MURDER IN LITTLE SHENDON
Picture, if you will, a picturesque village called Little Shendon, suddenly caught up in dealing with a murder of one of its citizens — not a particularly well-liked one at that. Which makes it all the more intriguing because the list of suspects becomes very long. This tantalizing tale unfolds with delightful twists and turns to find out whodunit to Mr. Bartholomew Fynche, the murdered shopkeeper.
Fear grips the community as the investigation slowly progresses. Everyone is interviewed; everyone is suspect! From the murdered man’s housekeeper to Lady Armstrong, her staff and her nephew. Or could it be the shy librarian new in town? Or the defiant retired army major and his ladyfriend, the post mistress? Or perhaps the weird sisters who live on the edge of town? Then there is the couple who own the local inn and pub, along with the two Americans who are staying there? Even the vicar and his wife fall under the gloom of suspicion.
Uncertainty, wariness, and terror reign as neighbors watch neighbors to discover the evil that permeates their upturned lives. No one feels safe in this charming little village.
A.H. Richardson, noted author, places in your trembling hands a mystery murder that will keep you reading until you learn the details, uncovered by Police Inspector Stanley Burgess and his two amateur detectives, his friend Sir Victor Hazlitt and the famed Shakespearean actor Beresford Brandon. Scratch your head with them over the strange clues that turn up. Follow them as they tread carefully among the landmines that appear innocent as they lie hidden beneath the surface of mystery.
Something evil skulks in this tiny country village. Who is the murderer? And why was this strange uncivil man dispatched in such a seemingly civil community? You are challenged to discover the culprit before the last few pages. And no fair looking ahead — it’s the journey that proves the most enticing.

Q&A:

Q) For the readers, can you talk us through your background and the synopsis of your novel?

A) My background? Wow! – this can either be a few sentences or read like ‘War and Peace’, so I will opt for the former, it will be quicker! I was born in London to a famous father, Clive Richardson, a celebrated concert pianist and a composer. I grew up in a world of art and music, and studied drama at LAMDA, and became an actress for three or four years … did I make a living at it? — hardly! Did I love it? — absolutely. I loved dragons, wizards and fantasy growing up, and in my teenage years, was a huge fan of the great Agatha Christie. I read everything she ever wrote, and would read them again at a later date. I had dreamed as a young woman of one day writing a murder mystery … and eventually I did, but I was 65 when I started seriously writing! Take heed all you writers out there … it is never too late.

Q) Can you talk us through the journey from idea to writing to publication?

A) The synopsis of this book is pretty simple really, it is a who-dun-it, and my readers tell me they really loved it – thank you kind readers. It deals with the murder of a man, who is not well liked by anybody in the village of Little Shendon – he has been friend to no-one, so the suspect list is a sizeable one. Our two sleuths, Sir Victor Hazlitt, retired diplomat and MI5 agent, and his partner, Beresford Brandon, a noted Shakespearian actor, and son of a famous detective, put their clever heads together and endeavour to solve this mystery. There are all sorts of wonderful characters who live in the village, and when yet one more murder takes place, seemingly unrelated to the first one, then people start getting nervous. I shouldn’t say any more, the reader must wade through it, and see if he/she can zero in on possible clues.

When an idea hits me, I jot it down in a very broad outline, and the next thing that happens, I find that various characters (in my head) are clamoring to get out and into the book. Once I have a very rough idea, I start on Chapter One, and I just go. Sometimes I have no idea what I am going to write (sound crazy?) It isn’t really, because my characters tell me what is going to happen. Am I a very organized writer? Absolutely not… should I organize better? I don’t think so, I think it would hamper the creativity which when it starts, just f-l-o-w-s. When you have finished the book, do a little polishing, and send it to your wonderful editor. I have a superb illustrator, the great Jeff Preston, and does my front covers and my editor is (drum roll here) the awesome Val Dumond. After editing and formatting, and a bit of tweaking here and there … we are off to the races and to the publisher.

Q) What are your favourite authors and recommended reads?

A) I would have to say W. Somerset Maughm – what a writer, a master of his craft. His books? “The Painted Veil” for one, “The Moon and Sixpence” – “The Razor’s Edge” and many short stories… his use of English was magnificent – if you haven’t read him, you really should.

Q) What were your childhood/teenage favourite reads?

A) As a child I like Enid Blyton and her adventure stories for children were exciting and funny, and a little scary, but not too much. I cried through ‘Jane Eyre’ and read all the Bronte sisters’ works, and of course Dickens.

Q) What has been your favourite moment of being a published author?

A) My favourite moment of being a published when you first hold that book in your hands, and say to yourself, ‘I did this – wheee!” You never tire of that feeling – it is exhilarating!

Q) Who has been your source of support/encouragement, throughout the writing process?

A) I would say that my three sons have been supportive of my writing, and the oldest told me the other day, “Mom, this is really quite good,” and said in a tone that indicated he was really surprised!

A.H. Richardson was born in London England and is the daughter of famous pianist and composer Clive Richardson. She studied drama and acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She was an actress, a musician, a painter and sculptor, and now an Author.

A.H. Richardson lives happily in East Tennessee, her adopted state, and has three sons, three grandchildren, and two pugs. She speaks four languages and loves to do voiceovers. She plans on writing many more books and hopes to delight her readers further with her British twist, which all her books have.

The Hazlitt/Brandon Series of Murder Mystery Novels by A. H. Richardson

The Hazlitt/Brandon series of murder mystery novels follows a pair of clever, colorful and charismatic sleuths – Sir Victor Hazlitt and Beresford Brandon – as they scratch their heads searching for clues to figure out whodunit.

The first book in the series, Murder in Little Shendon, is a thriller murder mystery which takes place in a quaint little village in England after World War Two.

Picture, if you will, a picturesque village called Little Shendon, suddenly caught up in dealing with a murder of one of its citizens — not a particularly well-liked one at that. Which makes it all the more intriguing because the list of suspects becomes very long. This tantalizing tale unfolds with twists and turns to find out whodunit to Mr. Bartholomew Fynche, the murdered shopkeeper.

Fear grips the community as the investigation slowly progresses. Everyone is interviewed; everyone is suspect! From his housekeeper to Lady Armstrong and her household staff. Or could it be the shy librarian new in town? Or the defiant retired army major and his ladyfriend, the post mistress? Or perhaps the weird sisters who live on the edge of town? Then there is the couple who own the local inn and pub, along with the two Americans who are staying there? Even the vicar and his wife fall under the gloom of suspicion.

Uncertainty, wariness, and terror reign as neighbors watch neighbors to discover the evil that permeates their upturned lives. No one feels safe in this charming little village. Who is the murderer? And why was this strange uncivil man dispatched in such a seemingly civil community?

A murder mystery that will keep you reading until you learn the details, uncovered by Police Inspector Stanley Burgess and his two amateur detectives, Sir Victor Hazlitt and Beresford Brandon. The three sift methodically through the Alibis and life stories of the suspects until they uncover…

You are challenged to discover the culprit before the last few pages. And no fair looking ahead — it’s the journey that proves the most enticing.

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